Awesome Stuff Women Did

A national folk hero of Afghanistan who rallied the Pashtun army against the British troops at the 1880 Battle of Maiwand. Like many Afghan women, she was there to help tend to the wounded and provide water and spare weapons. According to local sources, this was also supposed to be her wedding day.  When the Afghan army was losing morale, despite their superior numbers, She took off her veil and shouted:

“Young love! If you do not fall in the battle of Maiwand,

By God, someone is saving you as a symbol of shame!”

This inspired the Afghan fighters to redouble their efforts. When a leading flag-bearer was killed, she went forward and held up the flag (some versions say she used her veil as a flag), singing a landai:

“With a drop of my sweetheart’s blood,

Shed in defense of the Motherland,

Will I put a beauty spot on my forehead,

Such as would put to shame the rose in the garden!”

She was then struck down and killed. However, her words had spurred on her countrymen to victory. (Malalai Ana)